Federal MPs’ printing allowances have been
increased from $125,000 to $150,000 in the wake of a ruling by Special Minister
of State Gary Nairn.

MPs who do not spend all of the money will
be allowed to put up to $67,500 of the funds away for next year – an election
year. The printing they can spend it on will include fridge magnets, postal
vote applications and how-to-vote cards.

Bob Brown had a nice take on it all in a
media release:

The 86 Coalition
MPs will receive $12.9 million printing allowance for the year, and coalition
Senators $780,000. Total: $13.68 million…

“At 5 cents per
printed sheet, the government will have enough to print 258,000,000 pieces of
paper – equivalent to 25 pieces of junk mail in every Australian household
letterbox,” Senator Brown said.